Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-22
At THE STATE HOUSE.
HoI Il Appeared to I Journal Reporter
The Day After the Funeral.

the Day After the Funeral.
Shall the Fountain be Removed-Worh
| In the Departments
The State House appeared strangely quie,
and deserted when q Kennebec Journal re.
porter visited it yesterday. The fountain,
whose falling waters have made music in the
rotunda and served to break the monotony Of
the place during the long afternoons, is gone,
and for the present at least will not be re-
placed, the spot formerly occupied by it being
covered with mating. 1t is understood that
one reason FOR not Immediately replacing it
is to be found in the condition of its wood
work, which was discovered to be very much
decayed. Another objection is the space
which it takes up and which interferes some
what with using the rotunda for receptions
and quite unfitslt for dancing purposes. 1t is
to be sincerely hoped, however, that these or
any other objections which may be urged
against the fountain, will not prevail. 1t has
always been to visitors one of the most at
tractive things about the State House. Here
they always come for drink of it's cooling
waters and look at the fish which sported
in its basin. 1t was the one characteristic
feature of our rotunda which distinguished it
from the similar department of any other
State House in the country. No matter how
sutry and oppressive the day might be with
out, when the scdfching summer sun made
life almost burden, the rotunda of the State
House and the offices opening of from it,
were always cool and comfortable. Il shall
feel lonesome without that fountain, it WAS
to me the most cheerful thing about the build
ing," remarked prominent State House Off
cial to the reporter, and inquiry proved that
his feelings in the matter were shared by
many others. By all means let the fountain
be rebuilt. The carp which have for some
time past been objects of considerable atten-
ton in the fountain basin, are in the keeping
of Mr.. Fred Brown and it is understood will
be handed over to Fish Commissioner Still
well.
Speaking of the State House fountain re-
calls the fact that it was over this that Gen.
Harris had the band stand erected less than
one year ago, when the late Gov Bodwell
held his public reception in the rotunda.
Gen. Harris informed the scribe that all the
bills for that occasion were paid by the Gov
crnor himself, out of his own pocket-not
cent coming from the State. This was only
characteristic of the manly independence
which marked every act of Gov. Bodwell,
whether private or official. In conversation
with the reporter, yesterday, Gen Harris re-
lated another incident, illustrating this trait
in Gov. Bodwell's character, which is not
generally known and has not appeared in
print As soon as the Governor was elected
it occurred to Gen. Harris that living so near
the State House, he would doubtless have
great deal of driving back aud forth to do,
and the idea of erecting little shed or sta
BILE for his horse, somewhere in the rear of
the State House suggested itself. The Cen
eral mentioned the project to Gov. Bodwells
driver, who considered the plan an excellent
one. Upon broaching the matter to the Gov
ernor, himself, however he at once expressed
his doubts about the advisibilty of it. mo
other Governor has ever had anything of the
kind" he said, "and people would perhaps
think strange if did. 1t would be very con-
venient for me, however, and you may get
an estimate of what neat little building like
that would cost. If it is built at all it is at
my expense" Gen. Harris secured the esti
mates for the building. but the Governor de-
cided not to have it erected, for fear some
might think that he wanted something which
was outside of what his predecessors had had,
and would think the State had paid the ex-
pense of it. This is a small ::natter but it il
lustrates the manly, Independent character of
Governor Bodwell in all things, great or
small
In the Adjutant Generals Office the blanks
the military companies, which attended the
funeral services of the day before, for the
making up of the pay rolls
The draperies had all been removed from
private room. except those about the Govern
or's chair, which will probably be allowed to
remain for thirty days.
Governor Marble and Mr.. Stevens, Gov
ernor Bodwelrs private secretary were at
work in the executive chamber, putting to
rights the mass of papers which have accu-
mulated during the past few weeks. Gov
ernor Marble will retain Mr.. Stevens in his
present position.
La the Board of Health department, an as
sistant was mailing the December number of
the Sanitary Inspector, which will be found
to contain an unusually large amount of in
teresting and instructive reading. DIR. Young,
the secretary of the Board, was away in Car
thage on official business.
Down in the basement of the building men
were engaged in boxing up the draperies with
which the State House was decorated, up
wards of 400 yards of these draperies being
used.
| The draperies IN the rotunda will remain in
place for thirty days. with the exception OF
those alb out the pillars which have been re-
moved
THE CARMEL TRAMPs.
Efforts OF Irish to Prove an Alibi